He made a self-mocking noise, glanced down at the pool of water forming around his bare feet and quickly undressed, letting his clothes drop to the floor.
He was standing buck naked in the mudroom while his housekeeper, the woman who was driving him crazy, was in the next room with only a wall between them.
He was chilled to the bone, but his traitorous male body reacted inappropriately anyway. Being a man was an annoyance at times. Jaw clenched, he scavenged in the dryer and sighed with appreciation as he dressed in warm, fragrant clothing.
Once Jenna had gotten the hang of doing laundry, the result was far more pleasant than his pitiful attempts. To his way of thinking, chuck all the clothes in at once and let ’em spin. Jenna’s way was magic—and smelled good, too.
Out of long habit, he gathered up the mess in the floor, but the washer was already running, so he dropped them in an empty basket and went in search of that hot coffee.
Jenna wasn’t in the kitchen. He wanted to be glad, but instead he poured a steaming mug and went in search of her. Might as well have a little talk, let her know she didn’t have to worry about him coming on to her the way Rowdy had. Clear the air.
He found her in the living room, kneeling in front of the fireplace.
“What are you doing?”
She glanced over one shoulder, her hair catching on her mouth. His gaze went straight there as the thought of her kisses came slamming down on him. That puffy bottom lip tasted like sugar and cinnamon and pure delight.
“I thought a fire would be lovely,” that mouth said. “And you need to warm up quickly. This is flu season.”
His mouth twitched. “Afraid I’ll get sick and you’ll be stuck taking care of me?”
She studied him solemnly. “Actually, no. I don’t want you to miss the Christmas party.”
“Ah, yes, the party.” He rounded the sectional and set his cup on the table to kneel beside her. Their shoulders brushed and enough electricity arced from his body to start the fire without matches. “Let me help.”
She shifted to one side, breaking contact with him, and shoved a handful of crumpled newspaper into the fireplace. “I’m quite capable.”
Ah, so she was upset with him but too dignified to say so.
Before his brain could engage, he grasped her hands and turned her toward him. “I apologized last night.”
“How rude of you!” Color flared on her cheekbones.
Her abrupt words took him aback. He wasn’t sure what response he’d expected but certainly not that one.
“Rude?” Since when was apologizing considered rude?
“A gentleman kisses a woman and then apologizes? What does that say to the woman?”
He blinked, baffled. This was a side of Jenna he hadn’t seen.
“It says,” she went on in that prissy, citified tone, “that he regrets kissing her. That somehow her kisses were unpleasant.”
He blinked like a man staring too long at the sun. “It does?”
She nodded. “Isn’t that why you apologized?”
“No. You kiss great. I could have stayed out there all night kissing you. You’re amazing.”
Her face softened. She pressed her fingertips to her chest. With wonder and hope, she whispered, “I am?”
Dax frowned, swallowing hard. She was confusing him. If he didn’t shut up, he’d say something he shouldn’t. But he couldn’t let her go on thinking she’d done something wrong, either.
“I’m the offender here, Jenna. Not you. You—you’re very special.” He said the last on a rush of air, wishing the words back but thrilled with the joy that leaped into her expression.
“Oh, Dax.” She took his chin in her small, soft fingers and held him captive. “What are you afraid of?”
All his resistance seeped out, as though her touch had the power to disarm every carefully erected defense.
“You,” he said simply, quietly. “I’m afraid of you.”
Her hand fell away. And oh, he wished it back. He wanted her to go on touching him, making him feel alive and real again in a way he hadn’t felt in so long.
Bewildered eyes beseeched him. “I don’t understand.”
“I know you don’t. I know.” His throat tightened, full of emotion he shouldn’t express. Yet he had to find a way to explain. She’d done nothing but make his life better. She deserved everything good.
Helpless to say anything yet, he pulled her head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his life force beat for her, and he didn’t know what to do about it. She felt right in his arms and he wanted her there forever.
Her slender arms snaked around his neck. A wild flurry of hope rose inside him.